Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki established a new Pastoral Centre and a Catholic Bookshop with a physical store in Helsinki in January 2026. Bishop Raimo blessed the premises of the Pastoral Centre on 30 April 2026, and the official opening was celebrated on 15 May 2026.
The Pastoral Centre serves as the diocese’s expert and support centre, whose mission is to support and develop the pastoral work of the diocese and to strengthen the parishes in their fundamental mission.
The work of the Pastoral Centre is built especially around the themes of the New Evangelisation, synodality, and a safe and responsible culture of activity. The Centre brings together under one roof several key diocesan functions: catechesis (sacramental preparation), religious education in schools, liturgy, media, publishing, the work of the New Evangelisation, and the Catholic Bookshop.
The vision of the diocese is to form a strong community living according to the Gospel and offering spiritual nourishment and support to all. Through its work, the Pastoral Centre seeks to support this common mission and to serve the local Church in a practical way.
Supporting Parishes and the Faithful
At the heart of the Pastoral Centre’s work are the parishes, clergy, volunteers, and all the faithful. As the diocese continues to grow, the need for shared materials, training programmes, and cooperation also increases. The Pastoral Centre seeks to respond to this need by supporting parishes in their everyday pastoral work.
In the area of catechesis, the goal is to develop high-quality and consistent sacramental preparation throughout the diocese and to provide catechists with training and new educational materials. At the same time, efforts are being made to develop pathways into the Church so that every person interested in Catholicism may find a clear and appropriate path into full communion with the Catholic Church.
In the field of religious education, the Pastoral Centre supports Catholic religious education in schools, teachers, and the development of new educational materials. The aim is to ensure that an increasing number of children and young people have the opportunity to receive instruction in their own faith.
In the areas of liturgy and publishing, long-term work is being carried out on liturgical texts, spiritual literature, and the translation of the Catholic Bible. At the same time, the diocesan media apostolate, Fides magazine, and new audio and video channels are being developed so that the voice of the Church may reach people also through the newest forms of communication.
The Pastoral Centre also supports the work of the New Evangelisation. Its goal is to strengthen the culture and practice of evangelisation and to assist parishes in this common mission.
The Catholic Bookshop – A Place of Encounter in the Heart of the City
The Catholic Bookshop operates as part of the Pastoral Centre both as a physical store and as an online shop. The purpose of the bookshop is not merely to be a place of sales but also a place of encounter that supports spiritual growth, evangelisation, and the presence of the Church in Finnish society.
The bookshop offers spiritual literature, prayer books, books for children and young people, educational materials, devotional items, and various seasonal products. It also supports the diocesan publishing apostolate and the accessibility of Catholic literature in Finland.
The Catholic Bookshop is also seen as a visible part of the Pastoral Centre and the work of the New Evangelisation—a place where people can encounter the Church in the midst of everyday life.
A Safe and Responsible Culture of Activity
The Pastoral Centre is also responsible for coordinating the diocese’s safeguarding work. Its aim is to strengthen a safe and responsible culture of activity throughout the diocese and to support parishes in implementing safe practices.
During 2026, the Pastoral Centre will organise safeguarding training in cooperation with Caritas Finland for employees and volunteers, update diocesan web pages, and prepare safe environment principles and new guidelines, including a diocesan safeguarding handbook. The purpose is to build a culture in which the dignity of every person is respected and safeguarding forms a natural part of parish life.
The Pastoral Centre Team
The Pastoral Centre consists of a multidisciplinary team of seven people serving the parishes in various pastoral areas of the diocese:
Meisa Dano: Executive Director of the Pastoral Centre. She is responsible for the overall management, finances, and strategic development of the Centre, as well as for coordinating safeguarding work within the diocese.
Marko Tervaportti: Media and Liturgy Coordinator. He also serves as Director of Communications of the Diocese in the Chancery. His responsibilities include diocesan media work, Fides magazine, radio and television broadcasts of liturgical celebrations, and liturgical materials.
Katri Tenhunen: Publishing Coordinator. She is responsible for the editing and development of Catholic literature and ecclesiastical publications. Her areas of work include spiritual literature and the translation of the Catholic Bible.
Petri Kovács: Graphic Designer. He is responsible for the visual identity and graphic materials related to the Pastoral Centre, publishing activities, media work, and the Catholic Bookshop.
Siyan Zhuang: Catechesis Coordinator and Coordinator for the New Evangelisation. He develops parish catechetical programmes and activities related to the New Evangelisation in cooperation with the parishes.
Iita Haataja: Religious Education Coordinator. She supports Catholic religious education in schools, teachers, and the development of new educational materials.
Daniel Auri: Bookshop Manager. He is responsible for the operation of the Catholic Bookshop, its product selection, and the development of the online store.
A Common Project for the Entire Diocese
The Pastoral Centre is not merely an administrative unit but a common project for the entire local Church. Its goal is to serve the parishes, strengthen cooperation, and help the Church respond faithfully and professionally to the challenges of our time.
A dedicated section for the Pastoral Centre has been added to the diocesan website, where visitors can learn more about the Centre’s team and their areas of responsibility:
www.katolinen.fi/pastoral-centre (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The Pastoral Centre and the Catholic Bookshop are located at:
Mannerheimintie 90
Helsinki
Opening hours:
Monday–Friday, 10:00–18:00
Email:
pastoraalikeskus@katolinen.fi
Catholic Bookshop telephone:
+358 45 78371087
You can also follow the activities of the Diocese and the Pastoral Centre on social media:
• Facebook: Catholic Diocese of Helsinki
• Instagram: @katolinen, @katolinenkirjakauppa
You are warmly welcome to visit the Pastoral Centre and the Catholic Bookshop!
Wishing you a pleasant and blessed summer!
Meisa Dano
Executive Director
Pastoral Centre